RVCF Unveils Agenda for 2018 Spring Conference in Clearwater Beach

RVCF Unveils Agenda for 2018 Spring Conference in Clearwater Beach

The Retail Value Chain Federation (RVCF) is offering a first look at an exciting lineup of educational sessions, workshops, roundtable discussions and networking events as the agenda for the 2018 RVCF Spring Conference comes into focus. The conference, which attracts hundreds of professionals representing retailers, merchandise suppliers and service providers each year, will be held May 6-9, 2018 at the Clearwater Beach Marriott Suites on Sand Key in Clearwater Beach, FL.

After receiving such positive feedback at previous conferences, we have again chosen to forego a traditional keynote in favor of professional training that is often in short supply across the retail industry. Mary Kuniski, CEO and Executive Coach, Gold Professional Coaching LLC, will lead the workshop Triggers – Becoming the Leader We Want to Be. Mary will discuss how actions and reactions are triggered by people and circumstances around us, and show participants how to overcome various trigger points to enact meaningful, lasting change and become better leaders.

For Suppliers
Working with Amazon continues to be a hot topic among our supplier members, and we'll have multiple sessions led by former Amazonians who can offer unique insights into the retail giant's inner workings. Adam Ortega and Phil Stolt of the Ortega Group will present an Amazon Operational Overview that shows suppliers how to manage chargebacks, shortages, invoicing, purchase orders, catalog issues, and Vendor Central.

Mr. Ortega and Mr. Stolt will also present Managing Amazon from a Vendor's Perspective. Suppliers will learn how to build and protect their brands on Amazon. Should you sell your products on Amazon? What does your Amazon presence say about your brand? What does a customer "see" when they visit your Amazon product pages? What common pitfalls cause many brands to struggle? This session will help you sell effectively on Amazon.

We'll also have a session titled Hitting Those OTIF Expectations. Chuck Franzetta, CEO of Franzetta & Associates, Inc., will discuss the on-time, in-full (OTIF) challenge, including the business processes and technology needed to meet retailer expectations.

RVCF will moderate two panel sessions. The first will focus on Controlling Shortages. Panelists will discuss how to deal with the untamed animal of the retail industry and offer recommendations for preventing, addressing and disputing shortage claims. The second panel session will cover Chargeback Management, including strategies and tools for managing and preventing chargebacks.

During the session GS1 Presents: Leaping Global Boundaries with the Power of Standards, Michelle Covey, Vice President, Retail Apparel and General Merchandise, Industry Engagement at GS1 US, will discuss the nuances of bringing a product to market outside the United States. This will include detailed information on applying GS1 Standards to products in Europe.

For Retailers
RVCF will lead an extended, double session on Supplier Relationship Management Basics. This program was designed exclusively for retailers that have not yet developed or need help advancing a comprehensive supplier relationship management program, including supply chain performance tools, processes, and policies. Topics will include structuring compliance manuals and communicating updates and changes, effective supplier onboarding, and how to introduce and manage scorecarding programs and compliance programs.

Two additional sessions presented by RVCF will focus on e-commerce and compliance program management. For many retailers, store inventory can now be used to support online orders. However, the systems, processes, and people must be in place to support this valuable omni-channel capability. Filling E-Commerce Orders is a session that will examine how one RVCF retailer member developed and launched this fulfillment option.

Compliance Program Management – What's Negotiable and What's Not? will examine the gray areas of managing seemingly black and white compliance requirements. In other words, some situations require flexibility. Retailers can compare what they view as "standard and reasonable" and gain a broader supplier management perspective around their compliance program expectations.

For Everyone
Every retailer and merchandise supplier organization is under constant pressure to reduce costs and maximize profits, but few have implemented the right formula. Saul Berkowitz and Ken Pollak, certified public accounts and consumer product company consultants, will present Improving Margins. This session will reveal the in-depth timelines and actions necessary for a company to effectively monitor financial and operational activities and achieve optimal financial outcomes.

Michelle Covey and Susan Pichoff of the GS1 US Retail Apparel and General Merchandise team will present the GS1 US Apparel and General Merchandise Industry Update. The latest news on product attribute and image exchange, omni-channel fulfillment best practices, active RFID programs, and GS1 Standards in use across the industry will be discussed. This session will include an extensive question-and-answer portion.

There will also be extended open forum sessions for both retailers and merchandise suppliers, constant networking opportunities, and numerous one-on-one meetings between retailers and suppliers, which will be closely coordinated and monitored by RVCF. RVCF also invites attendees to sail along Clearwater Beach during a sunset dinner cruise, sponsored by Yusen Logistics (Americas), Inc. Look for announcements in the coming weeks about additional conference sessions, with topics including but not limited to:

The Retail Value Chain Federation (RVCF) is a neutral, independent retail organization that facilitates trading partner collaboration to enable industrywide growth and profitability. RVCF promotes best practices, industry initiatives and collaborative solutions that make it possible for retailers and suppliers to optimize supply chain operations and meet the ever-increasing expectations of the end consumer. For more information, visit www.rvcf.com.